Reasons For Increase Interest In Africa And Extent Of Expansion And Consolidation

Question 1

What was Britains policy in Africa like before the 1880s?

Answer 1

Britain took places of trade/strategic interest or to stop other powers getting them/match their settlement by claiming an area where British traders had already established themselves. Private chartered companies were used with some direct British intervention.

Question 2

How did Britain’s policy towards Africa change?

Answer 2

From the 1890s Britain became more assertive in Africa. Imperial attitudes grew in Britain and the Conservative Gov (1895) were determined to uphold Britains worldwide position and made British imperialism less haphazard:

• Protectorates expanded and new territories taken to limit the interests of European imperialists and this caused a British domino effect of occupation.
• Rules of the Berlin Conference required evidence of ‘effective occupation’ to officially claim a colony.